The Jean Genie
David Bowie & Billy Corgan Lyrics
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Strung out on lasers and slash back plazas
And ate all your razors while pullin' the waiters
Talking bout Monroe and walkin' on snow white
New York's a go-go and everything tastes right
Poor little Greene
Oh
Give up now
Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous
(Jean Genie)
He screams and he bawls
Jean Genie, let yourself go
Ooo, oww
Sits like a man but smiles like a reptiles
She love him, she love him but just for a short while
So, scratch in the sand won't let go his hand
He says he's a beautician and sells you nutrition
Keeps all your dead hair for making up underwear
Poor little Greene
Hoo, ooo, ooo
Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous
(Jean Genie)
He screams and he bawls
Jean Genie, let yourself go
Ooo, oww
So simple minded he can't drive his module
He bites on the neon and sleeps in the capsule
(Aah)
Loves to be loved
(Aah)
Loves to be loved
Aaa, ooo
Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous
(Jean Genie)
He screams and he bawls
Jean Genie, let yourself go
Ooo, oww
Go, go
Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous
(Jean Genie)
He screams and he bawls
Jean Genie let yourself go
Ooo, oww
Go, go, go
"The Jean Genie" is a song by David Bowie, with Billy Corgan providing backup vocals. The lyrics describe a wild, libertine character named the Jean Genie who has come to the city, strung out on lasers and pleasure-seeking. The Jean Genie loves New York, where everything tastes right and he can indulge in his desires. He's a beautician who sells nutritional supplements and keeps dead hair for underwear.
The song seems to be a celebration of excess and hedonism, with the Jean Genie living on his back, loving chimney stacks, and being outrageous. He "sits like a man but smiles like a reptile," and is loved by women for only a short while. Despite his pleasures, the Jean Genie seems simple-minded and unable to drive his "module," preferring to bite on neon and sleep in a capsule.
Overall, "The Jean Genie" is a song about a wild and free-spirited character who embraces his desires and lives life to the fullest, even if it comes at a cost. It's a tribute to the liberating power of excess and living in the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
A small Jean Genie snuck off to the city
A diminutive genie made its way to the city unnoticed.
Strung out on lasers and slash back plazas
It was high on lasers and dizzying back alleys.
And ate all your razors while pullin' the waiters
It consumed all the razors while making a scene with the waitstaff.
Talking bout Monroe and walkin' on snow white
It conversed about Monroe while wandering in a state of snow blindness.
New York's a go-go and everything tastes right
New York has a lively atmosphere, and everything feels perfect.
Poor little Greene
It expresses ruefulness for the adored yet small Greene.
Jean Genie lives on his back
The genie lies on its back.
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
It admires towering stacks and chimneys.
He's outrageous (Jean Genie)
It's stunning in a bizarre way.
He screams and he bawls
The genie yells and screams in excitement.
Jean Genie, let yourself go
It tells the genie to let it all out, relax and enjoy.
Sits like a man but smiles like a reptiles
It appears to sit like a man but share the same smile and mannerisms as reptiles.
She love him, she love him but just for a short while
Someone once loved the genie, but it was just a fleeting affair.
So, scratch in the sand won't let go his hand
Even as the person scratches their hand, they still refuse to let go of the genie.
He says he's a beautician and sells you nutrition
The genie suggests it's a beautician and offers nutrition products.
Keeps all your dead hair for making up underwear
It keeps all dead hair around to create undergarments.
A simple-minded, he can't drive his module
The genie is uncomplicated and doesn't have the ability to drive.
He bites on the neon and sleeps in the capsule (Aah)
It nibbles on neon and sleeps in a capsule.
Loves to be loved (Aah)
The genie appreciates being adored.
Jean Genie lives on his back
The genie lies on its back.
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
It admires towering stacks and chimneys.
He's outrageous (Jean Genie)
It's stunning in a bizarre way.
He screams and he bawls
The genie yells and screams in excitement.
Jean Genie let yourself go
It tells the genie to let it all out, relax and enjoy.
Go, go, go
Go ahead and let loose.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID BOWIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sexydanny21awesome
David Bowie was always someone Billy Corgan looked up too as a role model in his music this is truley a kick ass duet. David Bowie was always a smashing pumpkins fan too just see them singing there hearts together is one in life time moment in music history.
Marcus James
RIP David Bowie! My only regret was that I never got to see you live in concert! At least I have your music to live on forever!
missbitch67
+Marcus James He was amazing live. Was lucky to see him 4 times,fantastic memories.x
MAdM - The Angel on bass
Bowie and Corgan together, great rock medley...
lynniepooz
Love collaborations, and love this one by two of my fave artists. Love how Billy says "road race (or rage??) instead of the Cockney rhyming slang "boat race". Lost in translation across the ocean - brilliant!
Dusty the 2nd
Heard that as well.
Oliver Alvarez
Fuckin' awesome! I think these two guys are too much talent for one stage!
MrsBungle101
Billy looks so proud to be there...it is so sweet. They are both talented musicians and clearly have a mutual respect for one another and a genuine love of music. Bowie is of cores the father of rock and role, but they are both the cat’s whiskers.
Ana Silva
Aren't they just great? such a joy to see and hear two geniuses together
TheVeganHere
I love this video!! I've seen Bowie in concert many times over the years, starting around 1977 and he is always amazing. I even saw him a few years ago and he was still great. Thanks for posting this!!!!